Rally News N0.4                 Service Saturday 2.00pm

Unofficial Leaderboard After Stage Six

1^st (1) Kevin Lynch/Francis Regan (Impreza WRC) 24.16

2^nd (2) Glenn Allen/Damien Connolly (Corolla WRC) 24.55

3^rd (7) Johnny McKenna/Frank McConville (Lancer N) 25.09

4^th (6) Seamus Donnelly/Damien Duffin (Lancer N) 25.16

5^th (14) Neil McCance/Sean Ferris (Lancer N) 25.17

6^th (5) Kieran Shaw/Crawford Henderson (Escort WRC) 25.25

7^th (15) Seamus Heron/Gerry McVeigh (Lancer N) 25.42

8^th (12) John McGlaughlin/David McIlroy (Lancer N) 25.44

9^th (17) Craig Bennett/Roger Bennett (Focus WRC) 25.53

10^th (11) Terry McGonigle/Stephen Casey (Lancer N) 25.54

11^th (8) Raymond Mason/Peter Martin (Lancer N) 25.57

Kevin Lynch extended his lead over stages five and six with Glenn Allen setting equal fastest times in stage five but Lynch pulled another four seconds in stage six to now lead this Tour of the Sperrins by 39 seconds.  Both Allen and Lynch are on a different pace to everyone else but both drivers will make changes here at the Rodgers Fencing service area with Lynch hopefully fixing his brake problem while Glenn Allen will make further differential changes to his Corolla WRC.  Denis Biggerstaff is still going following his earlier puncture but had a fright in stage six when they were down to one wheel nut after fitting an extra spacer, and as a result had a bit of a moment.  The reason for Raymond Johnston’s retirement was that he cut a right hander in stage two and broke a bolt in the bottom ball joint.  Craig Bennett is just off the leaderboard following a spin in stage 6 but the crew could not get the Focus WRC to reverse after the paddle change had broken.

Seamus Donnelly not only made it to service but looks to have jumped to second in GpN and 4^th overall despite no second gear, and the team are now going to attempt to change the box in service.  Neil McCance reckons he had a huge moment on a 5L in stage six and thinks he will now drive with championship points in mind.  Johnny McKenna was another one to have a big moment in stage six, the GpN leader dropping a few seconds as he had to get down into first gear to recover.  Stephen Moore was off the road in stage six and broke a front brake calibre leaving them to drive the stage on the handbrake.  Seamus Heron feels his Lancer is down on power but still lies fourth in GpN while Cathal Rodgers punctured in stage six dropping about twenty seconds to the fastest GpN guys.  Eamon Mimnagh is adapting well to his GpN Lancer and lies just off the leaderboard on a total of 26.07 which is equal with Conor Kelly.  Eddie Quinn was having a good run but is dropping time by the bucket load as his Lancer suffers turbo problems. 

Alistair Cochrane was leading the 2wd race from Seamus O’Connell by just 3 seconds after stage three but was blocked in stage 4 when Brendan Cunningham put his Impreza off and we have no nominal times for this stage.    More News Later Michael Patterson & Zoe Todd